Things You Must Check before Buying a Used Generator

The most important thing is to make sure that the used generator you are buying is in good working condition. The following are some of the things you must check before buying used generators:

Check the Generator’s Condition

Before making any final decision, make sure that the condition of the pre-owned generator is good. You should also check whether there are any signs of wear or tear on it or not. If you find any signs of wear and tear on the generator, then it is better to avoid buying that particular item as there might be some major problems with it.

Age

A generator will lose some of its efficiency every year it’s in service, and so you’ll want to make sure the one you’re looking at isn’t too old. There’s no magic number, but at the very least, look for one that hasn’t been in service for more than 5 or 6 years.

Hours and Usage

The number of hours a generator has been in use will determine how much wear and tear it’s experienced. The same goes for how often it’s been used—generators that have been used frequently for an hour each week will be less efficient over time than those that were only used occasionally.

Load Bank Testing

This is an especially important factor if you’ll be powering something with your generator—a load bank test checks how much power the generator can produce when it’s under full load. It uses an external power supply to simulate different loads, then measures the amount of power being produced by the generator once everything is hooked up.

Check for Oil Leaks

The most important thing that you should check in an old generator is whether there is any oil leak from its parts or not. Oil leaks can cause serious problems for your machine, whether its a petrol or diesel generator and if you don’t take care of them in time, then they can cause severe damage to your machine as well as cause serious injuries to yourself as well. So, always try to check for oil leaks in an old generator before making any final purchase decision and make sure that they do not exist at all in your chosen machine.

Oil Level

A healthy engine will have clean oil with a greenish colour. Dirty or black oil indicates that there is something wrong with the engine. If a person tries to sell you an engine with dirty or black oil, then you should avoid buying it as it may break down within days after buying it.

Fuel Tank Capacity

Make sure that the fuel tank capacity matches with what has been mentioned in the description by the seller. If there are any discrepancies, then avoid buying them as they might break down very soon after purchase or use up all your money on fuel without giving any returns on investment (ROI).

Generator Control Panel & Gauges

You must check if there are any cracks or scratches on the control panels and gauges of your used generator before buying one. If there are scratches or cracks, then it means that someone has tampered with them and this can lead to further problems in future as well when you try to repair them yourself or take them to a mechanic for repairs.

Check all Belts and Pulleys

If there are any signs of wear or tear on these parts, replace them immediately because they could break while you’re using your generator.

Check Internal Components

Check internal components such as bearings and seals for excessive wear or damage. It’s important that these parts aren’t worn down too much because they can affect how well your generator runs when you need it most (during an emergency).

Check the Condition of the Engine

The next thing you should check when buying a used generator is if its engine starts easily or not. Before buying a used generator, you must make sure that its engine starts with ease and there is no problem regarding this matter at all. You will never know when your generator will stop working for some reason and if an emergency happens then you need something that can start easily without any issue at all.

Check the Condition of the Battery

The battery is an important part of your generator because it provides power when there’s no electricity available. If you can’t see the battery, ask about its age and how often it has been replaced.

If your generator has an external battery charger then plug it into a power outlet and connect it to the battery terminals for charging over night (do not forget to disconnect the negative terminal first). If there is not any external charger then use jumper cables to connect one terminal on the battery to another terminal on itself

Check Cables and Wires

The condition of all cables and wires connecting between components like the generator, transfer switch or control panel. Make sure they are not frayed or damaged in any way.

Check the Fuel Tank

Before you buy a generator, make sure that the fuel tank is not damaged or cracked. If possible, check if there are any leaks in the tank. You can do this by pouring water in the tank and checking if it comes out from any cracks in it.

Check the Generator Safety Certificates

A safety certificate is issued by the manufacturer after thorough testing of every unit that leaves their factory. It also contains information about all safety features and specifications of the generator. You should always check whether the generator has a valid safety certificate or not before buying it.